The Perfect (Healthy) Cup of Coffee

I love my morning coffee. The smell. The taste. The ritual. But all cups of coffee are not created equal, and I'm partial to cold-brewed coffee. You see, when you heat coffee beans, they become acidic and bitter. And that extra acid isn't good for your system -- it creates inflammation and can funk up your stomach. Plus, heating water requires electricity while cold brewing is carbon-neutral. Overall, it's a much gentler process and results in a milder cup of joe -- for you and the planet.

At the beginning of the week, I make a big batch and I keep it in a pitcher in my fridge. Each morning, I pour myself a cup, add some coconut creamer (a delicious alternative to milk for vegans and non-vegans alike), and go to my happy place. Here are my tricks for cold brewing:

1. I use a Toddy that I bought on Amazon.com. It's basically a plastic bucket with a filtering sponge.

2. At night, throw your favorite ground coffee and cold water into the bucket. You want to give it at least 12 hours to steep.

3. Pour and enjoy. It's super concentrated so you can dilute with water -- or extra coconut creamer. Yum.